Umbrella



March 3. 1931. I, THOMASES UMBRELLA Filed April 10 1928 f 13700,? iI/ozwmsgg;

ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Fatentefi 3; 1931 ISIDOR THOMASES, OF WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK UMBRELLA Application filed April 10,

This invention relates to improvements in umbrellas and has particular reference to a signal light therefor.

The primary object of the invention resides in providing a signal light on the to end of the staff of an umbrella which is e ectrically controlled by a switch provided on the handle, whereby the signal light may be manually controlled for lightin by the same hand of a user by which it is eld, to give warning in the dark to drivers of automobiles, street cars and the like to protect the user from the danger of being hit thereby. Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella with a warning signal in which an electric light bulb is arranged within the tip of an umbrella staff and protected against breakage thereby, the tip having.

suitable windows therein for emitting rays of light in all directions, while the handle of the umbrella is hollow and contains a battery from which the lamp receives its electrical energy. The working parts are all enclosed within the umbrella without afiecting its size or proportions.

Another object is the provision of a removable protecting cap which is fitted over the tip of the umbrella to protect the tip against wear when the umbrella is in a closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are 5 hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved umbrella in a raised position in use.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the umbrella in a closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the tip of the umbrella staff with the protecting cap removed.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the 1925. Serial No. 269,001.

tip end of the umbrella with the cap separate therefrom.

Referring to the drawin by reference characters, the numeral 10 esignates my im-' proved signalling device for umbrellas, canes and the like, and which includes a tubular staff 11 having a hollow handle 12 on the inner end thereof, while the outer end of the staff is provided with a threaded portion 13 for threadedly receiving the inner end of a ferrule 14. The outer end of the stall also contains an electric lamp socket 15 which includes a yieldable contact 16 which is engaged by an electric lamp or bulb 17 screwed into the socket 15. Contained within the hollow handle 12 is a dry cell battery or'batteries 18 which are inserted through the lower open end of the handle which is closed by a removable screw cap 19 while an expansible spring 20 is interposed between the lower end of the battery and the cap to hold the terminal of the battery in engagement with a double spring contact 21 mounted within the handle and which is engaged by respective push buttons 22 which extend through opposite sides of the handle to be manually depressed by the fingers of the hand by which the umbrellav is graspedin order to actuate the control switch of which the push buttons and double contact strip 21 serve as parts thereof. The switch also includes a double stationary contact 23 with which the respective spring contacts 21 enga e when the push buttons are depressed. onnected with the stationary contact 23 and the yieldable contact 16 of the electric light socket, is a wire 24 which extends through the tubular staff 11 and serves as a conductor for electric current from one side of the battery, the battery being grounded through the spring 20 to the handle and staff while the electric light bulb 17 is also grounded on the stafi by which a circuit is completed upon the closing of the switch.

The ferrule 14 is hollow or tubular for the major portion of its length while its outer end is solid and pointed as at 25 similar to the ferrules now provided on articles of this kind. The side walls of the ferrule are formed with spaced longitudinally disposed slots 26 providing window openings which are closed by a strip of transparent material 27 such as isinglass disposed in cylindrical formation and which is passed through circumferential slots 28 in the side walls of the ferrule and in which it is anchored. The isinglass prevents rain water and dampness from entering the same which might cause a short circuit should the dampness penetrate to the terminal of the lamp socket. It will be seen that the ferrule constitutes a housing or shield for the electric lamp 17 while the window openings within the ferrule permit the rays of light from the lamp to be emitted in all directions. In the drawing, the electric lamp is shown as red while the isinglass is clearly transparent but if desired, the isinglass may be colored red so as to appear translucent and a white electric bulb may be used in lieu of the red one shown.

In practice, a person using the umbrella in a raised position during inclement weather and at night, may signal to the drivers of automobiles, street cars or other pedestrians and warn them of his whereabout by simply pressing either one of the push buttons 22 with the finger or thumb of the same hand by which the handle is grasped to support the umbrella, whereupon the closing of the switch will cause the electric lam 17 to light up, thus throwing rays of light t rou h the window openings in the ferrule, whic light is clearly visible in the dark.

When not in actual use, the ferrule 14 may be rotected from wear due to the use of the um rella as a walking stick by providing a removable cap 29 which is of a shape similar to the shape of the ferrule and which fits snugly thereover. The inner end of the ferrule 1s provided with an annular bead 30 adapted to be received in an annular groove 31 provided on the split end 32 of the cap. When the cap is applied to the ferrule and ,upon reaching the limit of its movement thereover, the head 30 will seat in the annular oove 31 of the cap which serves to retain t e cap in position thereon. It will be appreciated that the cap is removed when it is desired to make use of the signal light.

While I have describedwhat I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described comprising a staff, and a hollowferrule embracing one end of the staff and having window openings therein, said ferrule having slots in the material thereof between the window openings, and said staff having terminally projecting therefrom and positioned between the window openings a light source,

and transparent, material disposed in said said staff and having window openings therein, said ferrule having slots in the material thereof between the window openings, and

said-end carrying thereon between the window openings a lamp, a handle on the opposite end of the staff, an electric circuit including said lamp and having control means in said handle, and transparent material positioned in said slots and closing the window openings to protect the lamp, whereby onoperation of said means said lamp is effective to project light through the closed windows.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

ISIDOR THOMASES. 

